Jazz Youth: Ezra Collective is part of a thriving jazz culture amongst young people. Pic: Justin de Nooijer

The collection was originally put together by legendary French record producer Francis Dreyfus and is being reissued by Sony BMG

It was at the turn of the 21st century when Francis Dreyfus created the ultimate collection of jazz ever created. His intention was to catalogue the great jazz musicians, preserving their music for future generations. The collection is being released for the first time on vinyl, and will include the likes of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Django Reinhardt, and features new artwork by Seb Jarnot.

Dreyfus died in 2010. Now nearly 20 years on from its first release BMG is releasing the first selection of 14 titles in support of Dreyfus’ vision, and it seems to be working. Today, in London especially, the sound of jazz fills tiny, sweaty basement clubs, rehearsal spaces and bedrooms. Jazz is thriving amongst people in their twenties and it’s because of club nights at venues like Deptford’s Steam Down and bands including Ezra Collective.

“Since my early childhood, I’ve been crazy about jazz. This childhood fascination is what inspired me to create Dreyfus Jazz,” he said at the time of the collection’s original release. “It’s [the collection] for those who already love jazz, and for those who will find great pleasure in re-discovering it… It’s also for the younger generation who don’t yet realize that they are going to love this music that burnt down from its creative violence and its jubilant swing throughout the entire twentieth century.”